Press release

World Cup wild cards announced

World League champions Russia were World Cup silver medallists in 2007 behind Brazil

Lausanne, Switzerland, October 5, 2011 – The wild cards for the FIVB Volleyball World Cup 2011 have been announced with Poland and Russia receiving a wild card to the men’s competition and Italy and Argentina to the women’s tournament.

The decision - made jointly by the FIVB, Japan Volleyball Association and host broadcaster Fuji TV - was made taking into consideration the results of the recently completed continental qualifying events. Russia, ranked No. 2 in the world, and Poland, ranked 10th, were both losing semifinalists at the recent European Men’s Championship. World League champions Russia were also World Cup silver medallists in 2007 behind Brazil. The five-time winners have never finished off the podium in nine appearances in the competition. For Poland, it will be the first time they feature in the World Cup since 1981 when they finished fourth, with a silver medal in the first edition in 1965 their best result.

In the women’s competition, Argentina were the fifth-best runners up across the five continental championships while Italy, the 2007 World Cup winners, were losing semifinalists at the European Women’s Championship.

Argentina have previously participated in the World Cup three times, including an 11th place finish in their last appearance in 2003 while Italy have featured in the last three editions, with their memorable performance in 2007 their only medal at the event.

The Drawing of Lots for the World Cup will take place in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday at 2pm (local time).

FIVB Volleyball Men’s
World Cup 2011 Qualified Teams

Team

Qualification Method

World Ranking as of Jan
15, 2011

Japan

Hosts

14

Russia

Wild Card

2

Poland

Wild Card

10

Brazil

South American Championship winners

1

Serbia

European Championship winners

3

Cuba

NORCECA Championship winners

4

USA

NORCECA Championship runners up

5

Italy

European Championship runners up

6

Argentina

South American Championship runners up

8

China

Asia Championship runners up

11

Egypt

Africa Championship winners

13

Iran

Asia Championship winners

19

FIVB Volleyball
Women’s World Cup 2011 Qualified Teams

Team

Qualification Method

World Ranking as of Jan
15, 2011

Japan

Hosts

3

Italy

Wild Card

4

Argentina

Wild Card

25

Brazil

South American Championship winners

1

USA

NORCECA Championship winners

2

China

Asia Championship winners

6

Serbia

European Championship winners

9

Germany

European Championship runners up

10

Dominican Republic

NORCECA Championship runners up

13

Algeria

Africa Championship runners up

15

Korea

Asia Championship bronze medallists*

18

Kenya

Africa Championship winners

23

*With hosts Japan finishing as runners up of the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, Korea qualify as the next best team at the tournament.

The World Cup – the first volleyball qualifying event for the London 2012 Olympic Games - is due to take place in Japan from November 4 to 18 for the women and November 20 to December 4 for the men.

The qualifying process consisted of the hosts being joined by the five continental championship winners, the best four out of the five runners up and two wildcards.